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Tuesday, April 19, 2011

How to make your own camera bag or die trying

Have you seen those expensive camera bags that look like large purses? I love the look, but they are so expensive! I didn't want to buy a bag which could go out of style in a year and then want a new one forever. I decided to take things into my own hands. This is where things may have gotten messy.

I'd seen several tutorials on how to make your own camera bag, but they weren't step by step the way I wanted. I combined what I saw to make my camera bag. While making this bag I came to the realization: I'm a terrible sewer. I think I knew this but I got a bit cocky when beginning this project. I took some pictures of the beginning of my project but stopped when I lost confidence. Luckily I came out with something I really like even though it's not perfect. I know my methods aren't perfect or even ideal, but I thought I'd share my way =)

Here are my starting materials:

A $20 purse from Ross. Make sure it has a flat bottom (insert Queen joke),

Foam remnants (bought for 50% off and then 50% off of that at JoAnn!),

2 Large pieces of plastic needlepoint canvas

White fabric (left over from another project)
Twine

Tools:
Glue Gun
Sewing Machine
Scissors
Measuring tape

How I did it:

1. I pulled out the lining of my bag and then measured my plastic needlepoint canvas. I trimmed off some height and I'd recommend trimming it even shorter than I did here.

2. I wanted to make one long panel that would fit in my purse it a "C" shape. Because the needlepoint canvas wasn't long enough to make the "C" in my bag, I stitched the two pieces together with twine.

3. Next I measured the foam and covered BOTH sides of the canvas in foam.

4. Then came this little beauty, my glue gun.

5. I glued the foam to the canvas and together like so

6. Next came the "Oh crap, I actually don't really know how to sew well enough to make my own pattern" I wrapped the fabric around the cushion I made and sewed. It turned out very loose and hard to sew WHILE on the cushion.

7. Not shown, I made a simple bottom cushion with striped fabric the same way I made the long "C" cushion. Then I stuck both in my bag. As you can see, it turned out to be too tall and the fabric looked loose and I didn't like it =( It kinda looked like a pillow was stuck in my purse! That's when I called my momma. She told me what I already knew but gave me the encouragement I needed. I took the white cover off the cushion, trimmed the cushion's height and length down and then put the white fabric on. I traced where the cushion when and then took it off and pinned it. I sewed it and it fit much more snugly. I ironed the edges so they looked nice and neat and then sewed them. This is my final product:

My camera fits snugly and this will work well until I get another lens!

What do you think? Not too bad for my first project without my mom, right? This bag worked great for my trip to visit Jordan and it kept my camera safe. I'm happy with my end product.

Wowzer!!!! wHAT a great idea. It is functional and always in style. I go out sometimes and want to take my camera but hate to carry a purse and camera bag. This is real cool I can use it as a purse and put my camera in there and it will be protected. Love the idea....